Episódios

  • Good writing is not complicated. As one guest notes, “it’s about injecting personality, making it engage and entertaining for your audience. But most importantly, it's about structure. … How is one paragraph leading to the next, how are they connected? The worst kind of writing, and we all see it all the time, is just rambling. It's not at all clear. People get lost and the idea gets lost.”

    This is the second part of our two-episode conversation about the value of effective business writing.

    In this episode, Jeff Bradford, Laura Brown, and Ryan Craig join us again to discuss:

    How writing and critical thinking go hand-in-hand—and why practice makes perfect.

    Why employers are often reluctant to teach remedial writing skills.

    The characteristics of good writing: storytelling, personality, metaphors, and symbols.

    Websites and other hacks that professionals can use to improve the quality of their writing.

    Jeff Bradford leads a PR and advertising agency, The Bradford Group. A former journalist, he wrote a 2019 Forbes article entitled, “Why Writing Ability Is The Most Important Skill In Business (And How To Acquire It)”.

    Laura Brown is a writer and writing coach, and the author of two bestselling books: “How to Write Anything: A Complete Guide,” and “The Only Business Writing Book You'll Ever Need.”

    Ryan Craig is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of University Ventures, and the author of “College Disrupted: The Great Unbundling of Higher Education,” and “A New U: Faster + Cheaper Alternatives to College.”

  • As one of our guests asserts, “it's very, very difficult to get to the top in any organization without being able to communicate in writing.”

    But how to become a better writer? Consider these two suggestions from another guest: “One is just simply read more and read better stuff. And secondly, write a lot. The more you write, the better you're going to get.”

    This is the first part of our two-episode conversation about the value of effective business writing.

    In this episode, Jeff Bradford, Laura Brown, and Ryan Craig join us to discuss:

    Why schools don’t prepare students to write well.

    How business writing is more interactive than many other forms of writing.

    The characteristics of poor writing: verbose, full of jargon, and failing to consider for the reader’s needs.

    Why professionals rarely receive feedback on their writing—and how executives model often bad habits.

    Jeff Bradford leads a PR and advertising agency, The Bradford Group. A former journalist, he wrote a 2019 Forbes article entitled, “Why Writing Ability Is The Most Important Skill In Business (And How To Acquire It)”.

    Laura Brown is a writer and writing coach, and the author of two bestselling books: “How to Write Anything: A Complete Guide,” and “The Only Business Writing Book You'll Ever Need.”

    Ryan Craig is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of University Ventures, and the author of “College Disrupted: The Great Unbundling of Higher Education,” and “A New U: Faster + Cheaper Alternatives to College.”

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  • Fictional 1980s corporate raider Gordon Gekko famously proclaimed that “Greed is good,” seeking to justify why one of the seven deadly sins is, in fact, ethically virtuous.

    Leaders should think deeply about the ethical dimensions of their actions. However, too many fail to recognize the moral complexity inherent in their decisions. As one guest argues, “Just like some people are tone-deaf, and they can’t carry a tune, some are ethics-deaf.”

    This is the second part of our two-episode conversation about why it’s so hard to be an ethical leader. Joanne Ciulla, Eugene Soltes, and Ann Tenbrunsel join us again to discuss:

    - Avoiding zero-sum ethical trade-offs

    - The ethics of price gouging and lying

    - Why some people justify their actions even as ethical failures escalate

    - Ethical decision making in an era of advanced technologies

    - Humility and the relationship between ethics and effectiveness

    Joanne Ciulla is a professor at Rutgers Business School and Director of the Institute for Ethical Leadership. A pioneer in the field of leadership ethics, she the author or co-author of numerous books and received a lifetime achievement award last year from the Society for Business Ethics.

    Eugene Soltes is an Associate Professor at Harvard Business School, where his research focuses on corporate misconduct and fraud. The author of Why They Do It: Inside the Mind of the White-Collar Criminal, Eugene was the recipient of the Charles M. Williams Award for outstanding teaching.

    Ann Tenbrunsel is a professor of Business Ethics in the College of Business Administration at the University of Notre Dame, where she focuses on the psychology of ethical decision making. Ann is the author, co-author, or co-editor of six books on this topic—including Blind Spots: Why We Fail to Do What’s Right and What to Do about It.

  • Warren Buffett has described integrity as “a reputational advantage that others will weigh in subsequent dealings.” His partner, Charlie Munger, agrees, noting that “You’ll make more money in the end with good ethics than bad.”

    So, why are many leaders often tempted to take ethical short-cuts—or worse?

    This is the first part of our two-episode conversation in which we explore why it’s so hard to be an ethical leader.

    In this episode, Joanne Ciulla, Eugene Soltes, and Ann Tenbrunsel join us to discuss:

    - Why it’s hard to define ethics—and why some people will break their ethical code before they break the law

    - Ethical failures, including blind spots, ethical fading, and language euphemisms

    - How success can impair a leader’s view of ethical behavior

    - Working rules: the difference between formal and informal language, codes, and policies

    Joanne Ciulla is a professor at Rutgers Business School and Director of the Institute for Ethical Leadership. A pioneer in the field of leadership ethics, she the author or co-author of numerous books and received a lifetime achievement award last year from the Society for Business Ethics.

    Eugene Soltes is an Associate Professor at Harvard Business School, where his research focuses on corporate misconduct and fraud. The author of Why They Do It: Inside the Mind of the White-Collar Criminal, Eugene was the recipient of the Charles M. Williams Award for outstanding teaching.

    Ann Tenbrunsel is a professor of Business Ethics in the College of Business Administration at the University of Notre Dame, where she focuses on the psychology of ethical decision making. Ann is the author, co-author, or co-editor of six books on this topic—including Blind Spots: Why We Fail to Do What’s Right and What to Do about It.

  • One of our guests argues that, “cash has historically been seen as a friend of the poor, [because] banks have never been seen as friends of the poor. Banks historically have been seen as institutions of elite control. They've been seen as run by social elites in the interests of social elites.” But much is changing.

    This is the second part of our two-episode conversation about the future of money. In this episode, Paul Avery, Dave Birch, and Brett Scott join us to discuss:

    - Cryptocurrency as a commodity

    - The inevitability of digital money

    - Why the US is slow to abandon cash

    - Innovation to reduce the power of the banking sector

    - Digital currency as a geopolitical issue

    Paul Avery is a financial journalist, editor, and public speaker. He is the editor of New Money Review.

    Dave Birch is an author, advisor and commentator on digital financial services. The author of many books, newest is The Currency Cold War: Cash and Cryptography, Hash Rates and Hegemony.

    Brett Scott is a journalist, campaigner, former broker, and the author of The Heretic's Guide to Global Finance: Hacking the Future of Money.

  • As one of our guests observed, we’re soon “going to have lots of different kinds of money. And the technological limitation of the past— which is, I only had five slots in my wallet, and I couldn't carry around 30 million different currencies— is about to vanish. My mobile phone is perfectly capable of managing 30 million different currencies.”

    This is the first part of our two-episode conversation in which we explore how money—and the monetary system—is evolving.

    In this episode, Paul Amery, Dave Birch, and Brett Scott join us to discuss:

    - Money as a form of memory—or a system of accounting

    - Why the current monetary system may be ripe for change

    - The evolution of money—and the role of states and the banking sector

    - Impact of digital technologies on innovation and the future of money

    Paul Avery is a financial journalist, editor, and public speaker. He is the editor of New Money Review.

    Dave Birch is an author, advisor and commentator on digital financial services. The author of many books, newest is The Currency Cold War: Cash and Cryptography, Hash Rates and Hegemony.

    Brett Scott is a journalist, campaigner, former broker, and the author of The Heretic's Guide to Global Finance: Hacking the Future of Money.

  • According to one corporate director, “there are two places [in the United States]—the boardroom and the Supreme Court— where a lot of people go on them and think it's for a lifetime.” But this mindset is starting to change.

    This is the second part of our two-episode conversation about the evolution of corporate governance as climate change and other societal challenges become more acute. In this episode, George Anderson, Amy Borrus, and Megan Shattuck join us to discuss:

    - Corporate governance outside the United States

    - How turnover can help boards to achieve greater diversity

    - The role of corporate leaders might play in shaping public policy

    - Factors that boards are considering when selecting new directors

    George Anderson is a Consultant at Spencer Stuart, where he advises boards and conducts director searches. He also leads the firm’s Board Effectiveness Services in North America.

    Amy Borrus is deputy director of the Council of Institutional Investors, where she plays a lead role in developing the Council’s strategy and policies on corporate governance, along with outreach to stakeholders and policymakers.

    Megan Shattuck is the President of Talent Advisory practice at Teneo where she counsels clients on a wide range of matters including board effectiveness and board succession planning.

  • As one of our guests observed, corporate governance “used to be a sleepy backwater. Now, it's on the front pages of the papers all the time.”

    This is the first part of our two-episode conversation in which we explore how corporate boards are evolving to address new challenges.

    In this episode, George Anderson, Amy Borrus, and Megan Shattuck join us to discuss:

    - The purpose and design of corporate governance practices

    - Board and management responsibility toward stakeholders

    - Corporate governance evolution

    - Challenges of the current governance model

    George Anderson is a Consultant at Spencer Stuart, where he advises boards and conducts director searches. He also leads the firm’s Board Effectiveness Services in North America.

    Amy Borrus is deputy director of the Council of Institutional Investors, where she plays a lead role in developing the Council’s strategy and policies on corporate governance, along with outreach to stakeholders and policymakers.

    Megan Shattuck is the President of Talent Advisory practice at Teneo where she counsels clients on a wide range of matters including board effectiveness and board succession planning.

  • As comedian Robin Williams once observed, “No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world.”

    This is the second part of our two-episode conversation in which we explore why some ideas gain traction, while others fail to catch on.

    In this episode, Ethan Beute, Mark Bonchek, Dara Treseder, and Sangram Vajre join us to discuss:

    - Ideas as personal truth

    - Influence of digital technologies

    - Aligning ideas and culture

    - The role of idea champions

    Ethan Beute is Chief Evangelist of BombBomb. He is co-author of Rehumanize Your Business, and host of the Customer Experience Podcast.

    Mark Bonchek is Founder and Chief Epiphany Officer of Shift Thinking. He is also on the faculty of Singularity University.

    Dara Treseder is Chief Marketing Officer at Carbon. She previously led marketing and growth efforts at GE, Apple, and Goldman Sachs.

    Sangram Vajre is Chief Evangelist and Co-Founder at Terminus. He is host of the FlipMyFunnel Podcast and author of two books about Account-Based Marketing.

  • Victor Hugo once wrote that “There is one thing stronger than all the armies in the world, and that is an idea whose time has come.”

    This is the first part of our two-episode conversation in which we explore why some ideas gain traction, while others fail to catch on.

    In this episode, Ethan Beute, Mark Bonchek, Dara Treseder, and Sangram Vajre join us to discuss:

    - Characteristics of ideas that take hold

    - Value of storytelling and community to spread ideas

    - Ideas as products

    - Incremental vs. exponential adoption curves

    Ethan Beute is Chief Evangelist of BombBomb. He is co-author of Rehumanize Your Business, and host of the Customer Experience Podcast.

    Mark Bonchek is Founder and Chief Epiphany Officer of Shift Thinking. He is also on the faculty of Singularity University.

    Dara Treseder is Chief Marketing Officer at Carbon. She previously led marketing and growth efforts at GE, Apple, and Goldman Sachs.

    Sangram Vajre is Chief Evangelist and Co-Founder at Terminus. He is host of the FlipMyFunnel Podcast and author of two books about Account-Based Marketing.

  • This is the second part of our two-episode conversation with three leaders whose stories were featured in The Collective Wisdom of High Performing Women: Leadership Lessons from the Judy Project.

    Last time, we discussed the origin and objectives of the Judy Project and Collective Wisdom. We also explored how others perceive success and ambition in both men and women, the impact of gender on our guests’ careers, and the evolving characteristics of successful leaders. You can listen to Part 1 here.

    In this episode, Colleen Moorehead, Beth Wilson, and Shelly Lazarus return to discuss:

    The value of diversity in the workplace, biases and blind spots that men may not recognize, advice for young women entering the workforce today, the challenge and opportunity of reinvention, and the power of storytelling.

    Colleen Moorehead is the Chief Client Officer at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP

    Beth Wilson is the Canada CEO of Dentons

    Shelly Lazarus is Chairman Emeritus and former CEO of Ogilvy

    You can find more episodes of Building Bridges here.

  • Women make up nearly half the workforce but still represent only 5% of Fortune 500 CEOs. However, the number of women in senior leadership roles is increasing each year. What lessons can we learn from those who reach the executive ranks?

    In this episode of the Building Bridges Podcast, we are joined by three accomplished guests to discuss a terrific book, The Collective Wisdom of High Performing Women. Our guests also describe their affiliation with The Judy Project, a Canadian program for women who are ascending into executive leadership and C-suite positions.

    Our guests are:

    Colleen Moorehead, the Chief Client Officer at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP Beth Wilson, the Canada CEO of Dentons Shelly Lazarus, Chairman Emeritus and former CEO of Ogilvy.

    In Part 1 of our two-episode conversation, we explore:

    The origin and objectives of the Judy Project and Collective Wisdom How success and ambition are perceived for both men and women The impact of gender on our guests’ careers Evolving characteristics of successful leaders

    You can find more episodes of Building Bridges here.

  • Technology is transforming virtually every professional function—including the practice of law. Instead of simply automating traditional tasks, advanced technologies will soon allow law firms and in-house counsel to approach legal work in completely new ways.

    On the second of our two-part series about technology in the legal space, our guests — Bobbi Basile, Shawnna Hoffman, and Jeff Marple — explore these issues:

    Return on investment on technology in the legal industry Millennial expectations and technology in law firms How legal education is incorporating technology Technology in the law field in the next 5 years

    Bobbi Basile is a Managing Director with HBR Consulting and has nearly 30 years of experience in the law field.

    Shawnna Hoffman serves as the IBM Global Co-leader for the Cognitive Legal Practice, as well as a Blockchain Subject Matter Expert and IBM Thought Leader.

    Jeff Marple is the Director of Innovation for Corporate Legal at Liberty Mutual Insurance.

    To hear this episode and many more like it, subscribe to Building Bridges on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or tune in on our website.

  • Technology is transforming virtually every professional function—including the practice of law. Instead of simply automating traditional tasks, advanced technologies will soon allow law firms and in-house counsel to approach legal work in completely new ways.

    On the first of our two-part series about technology in the legal space, our guests — Bobbi Basile, Shawnna Hoffman, and Jeff Marple — explore these issues:

    Why AI matters to our experts and the legal field Common applications for AI and advanced technology What is driving the growth in legal tech The competitive advantage that AI will bring to the industry

    Bobbi Basile is a Managing Director with HBR Consulting and has nearly 30 years of experience in the law field.

    Shawnna Hoffman serves as the IBM Global Co-leader for the Cognitive Legal Practice, as well as a Blockchain Subject Matter Expert and IBM Thought Leader.

    Jeff Marple is the Director of Innovation for Corporate Legal at Liberty Mutual Insurance.

    To hear this episode and many more like it, subscribe to Building Bridges on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or tune in on our website.

  • All top athletes have specialized coaches.

    Even amateur athletes have coaches supporting them through every practice and game.

    Why doesn’t every executive have that kind of support?

    We ask that question in the second half of our two-part conversation with experienced executive coaches Katharine Halpin, Dr. George Watts, and Brian Underhill, Ph.D.

    In this episode, we explore:

    What a typical coaching session feels like What Hall of Fame coaches are doing differently Pros and cons of developing an internal coaching team What executive coaching might look like in 20 years

    Katharine Halpin is the Founder and CEO of The Halpin Companies and author of Alignment for Success.

    Dr. George Watts is the Chairman of TLT Coaching and co-author of Becoming a Strategic Leader.

    Brian Underhill, Ph.D. is the Founder and CEO of CoachSource, LLC and author of Executive Coaching for Results: The Definitive Guide to Developing Organizational Leaders.

    To hear this episode and many more like it, subscribe to Building Bridges on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or tune in on our website.

  • All top athletes have specialized coaches.

    Even amateur athletes have coaches supporting them through every practice and game.

    Why doesn’t every executive have that kind of support?

    We asked established executive coaches Katharine Halpin, Dr. George Watts, and Brian Underhill, Ph.D. that exact question.

    In this episode, we explore:

    The benefits of the executive coaching experience The scope of coaching assignments How coaching techniques vary

    Katharine Halpin is the Founder and CEO of The Halpin Companies and author of Alignment for Success.

    Dr. George Watts is the Chairman of TLT Coaching and co-author of Becoming a Strategic Leader.

    Brian Underhill, Ph.D. is the Founder and CEO of CoachSource, LLC and author of Executive Coaching for Results: The Definitive Guide to Developing Organizational Leaders.

    To hear this episode and many more like it, subscribe to Building Bridges on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or tune in on our website.

  • Confucius said that learning without reflection is a waste; reflection without learning is dangerous. We agree.

    In this special episode of the Building Bridges Podcast we take a step back to reflect on what we have learned so far. The episode weaves together excerpts from previous discussions around eight key points:

    The nature of work is changing. Risk is unavoidable; organizations need to accept that and make choices in spite of the risks. It’s important to understand systems in a holistic way if you want to make change. Innovation requires both commitment and experimentation. We can expect new roles to emerge over time. Leaders are often only as good as their teams. Large companies often struggle to be entrepreneurial, but smaller companies need to respect what they can gain from larger organizations too. A good leader is open-minded, humble, and always learning and growing.

    We encourage you to reflect on these themes—and to go back and listen to any of the thought-provoking conversations you might have missed. For a complete list, go to www.skybridge.associates/podcast.

  • Steve Jobs once said, “You've got to find what you love… the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking, and don't settle.”

    So passion must lead to a satisfying career, right? Not necessarily.

    We asked Logan Lyles, Allison Kern, and Perry Lane this question: What does passion mean to you?

    Perry, Logan, and Allison shared personal stories of how their passions and their work overlap. They also explored whether one’s professional path is typically revealed in an epiphany or more gradually over time.

    Logan Lyles is the Director of Partnerships at Sweet Fish Media and host of the B2B Growth Show.

    Perry Lane is a principal at Skybridge Associates and SVP and Head of Digital Marketing at Barlow Designs.


    Allison Kern is a Producer at Sweet Fish Media.

  • This is the second part of our two-episode conversation discussing which books individuals should read at varying parts of their career.

    In this episode, we turn our focus to the characteristics of the best reading material books, particularly for young & upcoming business leaders.

    Larry Gennari, Alex Graham, and Alison Jones join us again to discuss:

    Best books to read early in one’s career The value of developing a reading habit Why there is a shortage—so far—of business books written by women How to read and retain the highlights of great books

    Alison Jones has more than 25 years of experience with leading publishers. She’s also the founder of Practical Inspiration Publishing & host of The Extraordinary Business Book Club podcast. Lastly, she’s written and edited several books, including This Book Means Business.

    Larry Gennari is a co-founder of Gennari Aronson, LLP. He’s also the chief curator for Authors & Innovators, and writes a regular column about business books for the Boston Business Journal.

    Alex Graham is an investment banker with over 30 years’ experience. He was previously on the board of the Writers’ Trust of Canada, and is the creator and leader of a popular book club for business leaders in Toronto.

  • This is the first part of our two-episode conversation discussing which books individuals should read at different parts of their career.

    In this episode, we discuss the characteristics of the best business books, the sort of material one might read at different stages of life, and how to realize lasting value from what we read.

    Special guests Larry Gennari, Alex Graham, and Alison Jones join us to discuss:

    The importance of reading for any aspiring business leader The difference between great books and those that are less valuable Why history books and biographies are often better than "business books" Their favorite books (and why they make the list)

    Alison Jones has more than 25 years of experience with leading publishers. She’s also the founder of Practical Inspiration Publishing & host of The Extraordinary Business Book Club podcast. Lastly, she’s written and edited several books, including This Book Means Business.

    Larry Gennari is a co-founder of Gennari Aronson, LLP. He’s also the chief curator for Authors & Innovators, and writes a regular column about business books for the Boston Business Journal.

    Alex Graham is an investment banker with over 30 years’ experience. He was previously on the board of the Writers’ Trust of Canada, and is the creator and leader of a popular book club for business leaders in Toronto.